Another child suffering from encephalitis passed away in Gorakhpur’s Baba Raghav Das (BRD) Medical College on Sunday morning. This brings the toll of the hospital ward to 69 since August 10.

Another child suffering from encephalitis passed away in Gorakhpur’s Baba Raghav Das (BRD) Medical College on Sunday morning. This brings the toll of the hospital ward to 69 since August 10.

The matter of shocking number of deaths in BRD Hospital came to light on Friday, when it was reported that at least 30 kids died in the medical college over the period of 48 hours after the oxygen supplier cut off supply due to non-payment of dues.

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#5:45 PM: Dr. Bhupendra Sharma has been appointed as new Nodal Officer for the Department of Pediatrics of Baba Raghav Das Medical College

Dr. Bhupendra Sharma has been appointed as new Nodal Officer for the Department of Pediatrics of Baba Raghav Das Medical College, #Gorakhpur

Notably, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visited the facility on August 9 to take stock of its operations. However, reports say that the CM was not informed about shortage or any disurptions in oxygen supply.

The media hue and cry on the issue led to political upheaval on the matter and principal of the medical college Dr Rajeev Mishra was suspended, pending inquiry. He resigned from his post on Saturday.

Confirming the resignation of Mishra from the post of the BRD medical college principal, UP Health Minister Sidharth Nath Singh said, “Yes, he has resigned. But no good, because we have already suspended him and initiated enquiry of his misdoings.”

In his letter to the Director General of Medical Education and Training, the principal said that he tendered his resignation from the post taking the moral responsibility for the recent death of 30 children admitted in the hospital’s paediatric ward.

Earlier, Singh and UP Medical Education Minister Ashutosh Tandon had said that Mishra was suspended for his “irresponsible act” of allegedly delaying payment to the supplier of oxygen cylinders.

They also said that a probe, led by the state chief secretary, had been ordered.